Species: Scorpaena brasiliensis, Barbfish, Barbfish Scorpeonfish

Scorpaena brasiliensis Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829

Barbfish, Barbfish Scorpeonfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines; snout very short (<eye); spine present behind front nostril; adults with a deep pit on top of head behind eyes, a pair of spines before that pit; eye moderate; a well developed, branched cirrus over eye; 1st (top most) preopercular spine the largest, with another one below that; a spine behind front nostril; bone over front of mouth with 2 spines pointing down and forwards; ridge under eye strong, with 3 blunt spines; roof of mouth with teeth on sides but not at front; no slit behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XII, 8.5-9.5; anal III, 5; pectoral 16-20, with some upper rays branched in adult; scales relatively large, smooth; lateral line complete.

Ground color varies from red, to brown to greenish-brown to yellow and white, paler below; throat red; lower head and body and inside surface of base of pectorals with small, round dark spots; pectorals green-brown, yellow in center; 3-4 brown blotches along side under lateral line; dorsal fin without large dark blotch at front; tail fin with two indistinct dark bars – across center of fin and at its rear edge.

Reaches 35 cm.

Found on shallow soft bottoms, occasionally around reefs; marine and brackish water.

Depth range: 1-204 m.

Virginia to Brazil.